Windsor Charter Academy to return to single principal model

Jan. 28, 2013

The file photo shows Kaye Neufeld, a third-grade teacher at Windsor Charter Academy, giving an overview of her class to the parents of students during Back to School Night last year. The WCA is shifting from two principals to one next year. / Beacon file photo

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In response to statewide funding cuts that have put strains on schools across Colorado, Windsor Charter Academy recently announced that it will be combining the school’s two principal positions into one starting in the 2013-14 school year.

“It’s a budget issue,” said WCA Board President John Bartmann. “Almost three years ago, the state cut funding for K-12 education... As a result, schools have had to make some changes over the years to try to compensate for that. The bottom line is we looked at the budget for this coming school year and we’ve run into having to use reserves.”

Instead of cutting teachers or programs, Bartmann said the decision, which was made by the WCA board in December, will better serve the students and keep the school operating at the standard parents have come to expect.

In a survey summary posted on the school’s website, parents heralded the school’s small class sizes, Core Knowledge curriculum and the “committed and caring” teaching staff. WCA also received the John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award for Elementary and Middle School in 2009-10, which is given to the top 8 percent of public schools in the state, based on student achievement.

Bartmann said the board voted to change the administration overall. Before the principal positions were originally split, there was one overall principal and an assistant principal. With the change back to a single principal model, there will be no assistant principal. Instead, some of the principal’s responsibilities will be shifted around within the administration.

“Going from two to one principal is the best way that we could get us back at least so we’re operating within our revenue stream,” Bartmann added.

Tracy Stanford originally was hired as the school’s only principal five years ago before that position was split into two a couple years ago. Currently, Stanford serves as principal for the elementary school portion of WCA — kindergarten through fifth grade. Julie Claeys is the middle school principal, overseeing grades six through eight.

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Regarding the change, Stanford said she had no comment. Claeys didn’t return a call for comment by deadline.

Both Stanford and Claeys will be allowed to reapply for the new position, as will outside parties, according to Bartmann.

After the application process is completed, he said the board hopes to have a decision as soon as possible so whoever takes over the new position will be able to hit the ground running by May.

Most WCA parents, such as Charlie Sprackling, understand the position the school was in while making the decision but also doesn’t know what it will exactly mean.

“You just don’t know,” Sprackling said, while picking his son up from school Friday afternoon. “Is it going to change things? Will it be for the better? You just don’t know.”

“The unknown is unsettling,” he added.

Bartmann said a letter was sent out to parents about the change, and he’s seen a mixture of reactions.

“There’s those that don’t like the change,” Bartmann said. “They think they (Stanford and Claeys) both are doing a good job, but all of the parents understand the position the school is in.”

Bartmann assured that neither the students nor their parents will see any visible or academic changes.